Buddleia plant named ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’

ABSTRACT

A new Buddleia plant particularly distinguished by contrasting white eye surrounded by dark purple flowers, a small statured plant that is wider than tall, large and dense panicles and continuous blooming, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Buddleia x hybrida (Buddleia davidii x B. crispa x B. alternafolia x B. lindleyana).

Variety denomination: ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Buddleia hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’.

‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ arose from a deliberate cross between two un-named, proprietary and unpatented Buddleia seedlings in Salem, Oreg. Seeds from the cross were sown in April 2014 in Salem Oreg. and further grown in Tipp City, Ohio. ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ was selected in July 2017 in Tipp City, Ohio from the seedling population.

‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ was first asexually propagated in August 2017 in Tipp City, Ohio by softwood cuttings. ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via softwood cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Boring, Oreg. and Tipp City, Ohio.

-   -   1. Contrasting white eye surrounded by dark purple flowers;     -   2. Small statured plant that is wider than tall;     -   3. Large and dense panicles; and     -   4. Continuous blooming.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Buddleia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, inflorescence, and foliage. The photographs are of a 5-month-old plant taken in September 2022 and grown outdoors in Boring, Oreg. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit.

FIG. 2 shows the upper surface of multiple flowering stems of ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ at different stages of flowering.

FIG. 3 shows the lower surface of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 shows the upper surface of another multiple flowering stem of ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ at different stages of flowering.

FIG. 5 shows the lower surface of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 shows the upper surface of an individual flowering stem of ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ at bud stage.

FIG. 7 shows the lower surface of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 shows the upper surface of individual leaves of ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’.

FIG. 9 shows the lower surface of the leaves of FIG. 8 .

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set for the distinctive characteristics of ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’. Measurements were taken from a 5-month-old plant, potted in a 3-gallon container and grown outdoors under irrigation. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2001, Fourth Edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Scrophulariacace.         -   Botanical.—Buddleia x hybrida (Buddleia davidii x B. crispa             x B. alternifolia x B. lindleyana).         -   Designation.—‘PODARASNGA 9-15’. -   Plant:     -   -   Type and habit.—Deciduous shrub with a compact and mounding             growth habit; has a profuse number of flowers at each branch             terminus; readily produces branches at each node; has             horizontal branches with vertical secondary branches             terminating in an inflorescence.         -   Form.—Oval, horizontal and low to the ground.         -   Height (at crown and measured from the top of the             soil).—30.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—130 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—To produce a 4-inch plant:             5 to 6 weeks from cuttings. To produce a 1-gallon pot: 8 to             10 weeks.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Excellent in average soil             structure with full sun; average fertility and water usage.         -   Natural flowering season.—At least 4 weeks before B. davidii             and continuing up to a hard frost.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—7 to 10 days using 3,000             to 4,000 ppm IBA (indolebutyric acid) for tougher plant             material or 2,000 ppm IBA for softer plant material.         -   Root description and habit.—Dense and fibrous; roots are RHS             18D.         -   Propagation type.—Softwood cuttings.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy to USDA Zone 6, possibly hardy in USDA Zone             5b; pruning is not recommended after August. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   General.—Young branches are cubic and are 4-sided, while             mature branches are rounded.         -   Quantity per plant.—About 10 primary branches.         -   Length.—41.0 cm to 52.0 cm for primary branches and 12 cm to             22 cm for secondary branches.         -   Internode length.—About 0.4 cm.         -   Diameter, for all branches.—About 0.5 cm; from midpoint,             about 0.25 cm.         -   Color.—Inner and older branches not exposed to the sun form             a splotchy bard of RHS 199A and RHS N200A; outer younger             branches exposed to sun are RHS N186A and inner younger             branches not exposed to the sun are RHS 191A.         -   Angle of branch attachment.—About 180 degrees for primary             branches and about 90 degrees for secondary branches which             are pliable.         -   Texture.—Primary branches are rough due to a developing thin             bark and secondary branches are soft due to being floccose.         -   Strength.—Mature branches are pliable.         -   Anthocyanin.—RHS N186A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaf arrangement and quantity.—135 to 200 per branch;             opposite; about 5 pairs of leaves on the primary branches;             about 4 pairs of leaves on the secondary and tertiary             branches.         -   Length.—2.5 nearest to flower panicles and 8 cm at base of             plant.         -   Width.—1 cm to 3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.         -   Margin.—Broadly serrate and each point of the margin comes             to a rounded point.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rugose with stellate hairs;             glandular RHS N155A bodies are present. Lower surface:             Thickly floccose; glandular RHS N155A bodies are found under             the hairs.         -   Color, immature.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS             195A.         -   Color, mature.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS             194A.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate with RHS 155A papillate glands on             the veins.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 196C. Lower surface: RHS             194A.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.9 cm. Diameter: 0.19 cm. Texture:             Strongly floccose. Color: RHS 196C. -   Inflorescence (panicle):     -   -   Appearance.—Panicles are lanceolate-conical to oval-conical             in shape; terminal flowers are in fours, with an additional             flower at the left-side node; additionally, a fifth or sixth             flower may be found.         -   Height.—Of primary inflorescence/panicle: Between about 12.5             cm to 15.0 cm. Of three axillary inflorescence/panicles:             Between about 7.0 cm to 9 cm. Of one axillary             inflorescence/panicle: 1.5 cm to 6.0 cm.         -   Width (of all panicles).—2.0 cm when the flowers are not             fully open to about 3.0 cm when the flowers are fully open.         -   Bud.—General: Buds begin as a bud cluster and are RHS 145A             with RHS N92A at the tip and as the buds mature, they become             individualized and enlarge; the length of the bud cluster is             1.0 cm and the width of the bud cluster is 0.4 cm. Shape:             Strongly conical. Texture: Floccose. Length: 2.0 cm. Width:             0.5 cm. Color: Mainly RHS 141B with RHS N92A.         -   Flower.—Type and habit: Single and salverform flowers             arranged in compound terminal panicles which are conical in             shape; flowers face upright and outward. Fragrance: Very             fragrant. Lastingness of flowers on the plant: 7 to 10 days.             Quantity of flowers per inflorescence (panicle): About 1006.             Depth: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four, sometimes five or six, partially             cupped petals arranged in a single whorl with the petals             fused to form a tube. Shape: Square. Apex: Partially cupped.             Base: Fused. Margin: Crenulate. Texture (both upper and             lower surfaces): Very few hairs and small RHS N115A             glandular bodies sprinkled on petals. Length: 0.4 cm. Width:             0.4 cm. Color, immature (both upper and lower surfaces): RHS             N92B. Color, mature: Upper surface: RHS N89B. Lower surface:             RHS 83A.         -   Eye color.—RHS 155B: between the petals and top of the             corolla tube.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: 0.9 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color: Inner             surface: RHS 163B. Outer surface: RHS 83A mainly to RHS 77A             with RHS 14B near the sepal. Texture: Inner surface: Smooth             except for spines present that are 0.015 cm in length. Outer             surface: Papillate with white glandular bodies and a few             hairs.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement and quantity per flower: Four sepals             arranged in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepals:             Shape: Cup-shaped. Apex: Lobed. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire.             Length: 0.3 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Texture: Upper surface:             Floccose with white glandular bodies. Lower surface: Smooth.             Color: Upper surface: RHS N92B. Lower surface: 141B.         -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square. Length: 2.0 cm to 4.0 cm. Diameter:             0.2 cm. Strength: Flexible and strong. Color: RHS N186A             exposed to the sun and RHS 191A when not exposed to the sun.             Texture: Floccose.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141B.             Texture: Floccose. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 4. Filament: General:             Completely fused to corolla tube. Anther: Length: 1.0 cm.             Color: RHS 155C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: RHS             155C.         -   Pistil.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 0.4 cm. Stigma:             Shape: Club shaped with obtuse tip, so narrow at the base             and wide at the tip with a barely noticeable cleft. Color:             RHS 144B. Style: Length: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS N194A. Ovary:             Shape and position: Globular and superior. Width: 0.09 cm.             Length: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS 144B with. -   Seed: Seed not observed to date. -   Disease and insect resistance: None specific disease or insect     resistant observed.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETY

When ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ is compared to the commercial variety ‘Violet Cascade’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,298), ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ is 30.0 cm in height, while ‘Violet Cascade’ is 122 cm in height.

When ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ is compared to the female parent, an un-named, unpatented proprietary Buddleia hybrid, ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ is shorter in height than the female parent and broader in width than the female parent with much more contrasting white eye than the female parent.

When ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ is compared to the male parent, an un-named, unpatented proprietary Buddleia hybrid, ‘PODARASNGA 9-15’ is shorter and broader with darker coloration in the outer portion of the petal than the male parent. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleia plant named ‘PodarasNGA 9-15’ as described and illustrated herein. 